Excited about setting up the newly bought Ford stereo? Well, you should be. But that excitement can be utterly ruined if you don’t understand the wiring harness color codes and connections.
Don’t worry because all you need is a proper guide for Ford stereo wiring color code & diagrams. There are plenty of color code diagrams available on the web. Will one of those be enough?
The answer is no, unfortunately. Firstly, knowing the color label of each wire won’t help you much. You have to understand the wire’s purpose alongside how and where to connect it. Also, some additional wires will always be present depending on different models.
Give this article a read to know the necessary color codes and understand the connections of the stereo-wiring system of your Ford. Let’s dive right in.
Comprehending the Color Codes
To properly install the stereo, the first thing that needs to be done is knowing where each wire would connect. Take a look at this list below to realize the purpose of each wire and its connection routes.
Yellow Wire: 12 Volt Battery (+)
A yellow wire is typically the power wire for your stereo. The battery is the source of power, not only for your stereo but also for all the electrical components of your car.
This yellow wire draws power from the 12-volt (+) side and supplies it to the head unit and adjacent components. Connect the wire to the positive terminal of your battery and check if it’s fastened properly.
A poor connection of this yellow wire will prohibit the power to your entire stereo system.
Red Wire: 12 Volt Ignition, Switch
The red wire in your Ford wiring harness mainly works as a switch wire. A lot of people confuse this with the power wire because if this wire is not connected properly, your system won’t get power.
How this works is that the wire restricts the power supply to the stereo until you start the car using the key. When the ignition gets turned off, the stereo is likely to lose power and get turned off.
Black Wire: Chassis Ground
Every electrical circuit requires a ground connection for safely discharging excess charge or any unwarranted short circuit current. Usually, the black wire of your stereo’s wiring harness is dedicated to the ground connection.
Besides providing a safe passage for an excess charge, the ground connection is essential for completing your stereo’s circuit path. This means a loose or damaged connection of this wire won’t let power circulate to your stereo system.
A good ground connection is also important to avoid electrical damage from sudden voltage surges. Find a bolt or hook in the vehicle’s metal chassis part to connect the ground with it.
Orange Wire: Auto Illumination Dimming
The orange wire in your Ford stereo harness is dedicated to the automated display illumination dimmer. Power to this function automatically controls the intensity of the display light based on the amount of light available.
The display illumination feature is very helpful and also offers a panache look. But during night driving, the lights can be very distracting sometimes. So, it’s important that you connect this wire tightly.
Orange-White Wire: Dimmer Switch
Not every model is going to have this wire because, most of the time, the function is automated. If the display illumination system has a dimmer control, usually, it’ll be in the form of a button or knob.
This wire connects this knob to the system and lets you control the light intensity as per your preference.
Blue Wire: Antenna Power
The blue wire in the wiring harness system is dedicated to supplying power to the antenna. It’s usually connected to the turn-on wire of the stereo and is bundled together with power wires and a ground connection.
The connection for this wire must go to the dedicated switch. Using this switch, you can decide on options like providing power to the antenna, retracting it, and expanding it.
Blue-White Wire: Amp Turn-on
The blue-white wire in your wiring harness is for connecting the aftermarket amp to your stereo system. This wire needs to go to the dedicated terminal on the amplifier. When the stereo is switched on, this wire supplies power to the amp speakers.
Brown Wire: Phone Mute
The brown wire in the harness is dedicated to a quality-of-life feature, the phone mute, which is actually quite important. While your phone is connected to the stereo system, this feature mutes the audio output to the stereo when you answer a phone call.
For further convenience, I’ve provided a color code diagram below.
Tips for Properly Connecting the Stereo System
The color codes mentioned above are only the prevalent ones. You’re likely to find them in all vehicle models of Ford. But what about the additional wires that vary with models?
In this section, I’ll provide you with some essential tips that’ll allow you to correctly install a stereo in your Ford, no matter the model. Let’s take a look.
Utilize the Owner Manual
For any problem you face with your vehicle, you should check if it’s mentioned in the manual first. The same goes for this issue. Before connecting the wires, double-check each of the wire’s purpose from the manual.
Connect Wires Stoutly
Make sure you’re connecting each wire properly. Check if the end contacts of a wire are proper metal-to-metal connections because otherwise, no electricity will pass through it.
Check the Wire
A damaged wire will not only restrict the supply of power to its destination but also put the related component at great risk of accidents.
Unwarranted short circuit issues, voltage surges, and many other issues may emerge from a damaged wire. So, it’s essential to ensure that the wires are sound before connecting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you fasten the wires securely?
A lot of people tend to use butt connectors for securing wire connections, but they would never be 100% reliable. For full security of your connections, you end to solder the endpoints to the dedicated metal part.
How to keep stereo wires safe from outside damage?
When installing your stereo, make your wires oriented and away from places that can reach the water. You can use heat sink tubes for further protection.
Heat sink tubes insulate wires better and keep them safe from external moisture, abrasion, dust, and sharp particles.
Conclusion
Convoluted color patterns in the wiring harness of your Ford stereos are enough to discourage any soul from approaching the task. But it is actually quite simple if you have a good knowledge of Ford stereo wiring color code & diagrams.
If you still feel confused, don’t hesitate to reach out for professional help. It’s better to be safe than sorry later.